• Multiple wildfires prompt evacuations during the first Santa Ana event of the season in Southern California

    ByRishav Kothari

    Multiple wildfires broke out across Southern California on October 15, 2026, prompting evacuation orders and road closures during the season’s first moderate-to-strong Santa Ana wind event. The Henderson Fire at Camp Pendleton reached 568 ha (1 404 acres), while the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD) listed the Bryson Fire near Malibu at approximately 41 ha (102 acres) with 0% containment in its evening update.

  • Evacuation orders remain near Santa Clarita after Bouquet Fire burns 424 ha (1 048 acres) in Los Angeles County, California

    ByRishav Kothari

    Evacuation orders remained in effect northeast of Santa Clarita early on October 5, 2026, after the Bouquet Fire burned 424 ha (1 048 acres) in the Angeles National Forest and reached 48% containment late on October 4. The fire expanded from 8 ha (20 acres) to approximately 405 ha (1 000 acres) in less than 3.5 hours on October 3, prompting road and recreation-area closures.

  • Two killed in firefighting helicopter crash during Dome Fire response in California

    ByReet Kaur

    Two people were killed when a firefighting helicopter crashed during the Dome Fire response in Mariposa County, California, on September 20, 2026. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the Eurocopter AS332-series helicopter crashed at approximately 14:55 PDT (21:55 UTC) with two people aboard. FlyPrecision subsequently confirmed the deaths of two members of its team. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation, with the FAA participating.

  • Palos Fire destroys 2 homes, damages 2 outbuildings and injures 2 in La Habra Heights, California

    ByRishav Kothari

    The Palos Fire burned approximately 7 ha (17 acres) in La Habra Heights, Los Angeles County, on September 14, 2026, destroying two homes, damaging two outbuildings and injuring one civilian and one firefighter. Firefighters stopped the fire’s forward progress, containment reached 41%, and evacuation warnings were later lifted.

  • Ross Fire grows to 32 400 ha (80 000 acres), Texas

    ByRishav Kothari

    Around 630 homes were evacuated as the Ross Fire exploded in size, spreading from Palo Pinto County into neighboring Jack County on August 25, 2026. It had burnt least 20 200 ha (50 000 acres), and was 12% contained after damaging or destroying structures in the area. Residents in affected parts of southern Jack County were instructed to evacuate east along County Road 2210 toward U.S. Highway 281.

  • State of emergency declared as Hawk Fire injures six near Reno, Nevada

    ByRishav Kothari

    Six people were injured and approximately 42 000 remained in GO NOW evacuation zones after the Hawk Fire expanded across the Peavine Peak area northwest of Reno, Nevada, on August 22–23, 2026. Nevada declared a State of Emergency in Washoe County, while the latest available mapping placed the fire at approximately 6 086 ha (15 040 acres) with 0% containment late on August 23.

  • Extreme fire behavior continues on Widemouth 2 Fire after fatal helicopter crash, Utah

    ByRishav Kothari

    A pilot and one crewmember were killed when a helicopter under contract to the U.S. Forest Service crashed during operations on Utah’s Widemouth 2 Fire on August 7, 2026. By August 8, the fire had burned approximately 43 079 ha (106 450 acres), was 24% contained and continued to show extreme fire behavior, with evacuations and closures still in effect.

  • 846 structures damaged or destroyed, suspect faces arson charges for Old Trails and 4 other fires, Washington

    ByRishav Kothari

    Three Spokane-area fires have burned 4 223 ha (10 436 acres) as of August 6, 2026. The Old Trails, Autumn Lane, and Fairview fires have damaged or destroyed 846 structures. Both the Old Trails and Autumn Lane fires were 13% contained, while the Fairview fire stood at 5%. A Red Flag Warning remains in effect on August 7, while the man accused of starting the Old Trails Fire faces five first-degree arson charges.

  • Widemouth 2 Fire more than triples to 14 746 ha (36 438 acres), forces evacuations near Fillmore, Utah

    ByReet Kaur

    The Widemouth 2 Fire more than tripled between mapped observations in central Utah, increasing from 4 168 ha (10 300 acres) late on August 1, 2026, to 14 746 ha (36 438 acres) on August 2 as strong southerly winds pushed it north toward Fillmore. Mandatory evacuation orders expanded into southern Fillmore, while the fire was reported at 0% containment in the latest available update.